Childhood Lost

Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).

Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.

Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism

(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)

"What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless."

John Stone,

UK media editor, Age of Autism

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"The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country."

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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A teacher with Durham District School Board wearing protective gear that helps prevent injuries if a violent incident occurs at the school. (CBC News/ Martin Trainor)

Sept 13, 2017, CBC News (Canada): Durham teachers want more special needs support, say violence rising in elementary schoolshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/durham-etfo-campaign-1.4287416A Toronto-area teachers union has launched a campaign seeking more classroom support for special needs students after members say they've witnessed an increase in violent incidents and the need for teachers to wear protective gear.
"We're rolling out this campaign because of the dramatic increase in calls we've received and concerns that we've heard from members over the increase they've experienced of violence in their classroom," said David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario Durham Teacher Local. ...
The survey of more than 2,700 members of which 791 responded indicated that there were more than 300 incidents of violence in 2016."The bites and the scratches and the kicks and the punches — those have all happened on numerous occasions," said Mastin. "The worst example is one of our members had their head smashed against a desk by a student. They were off for a number of weeks, not just to recover physically but also psychologically."
In order to help teachers protect themselves, the Durham District School Board (DDSB) provides teachers with protective gear like jackets with Kevlar-like inserts. ...
The teacher, who didn't want her identity revealed because she's concerned it may affect her employment status, told CBC Toronto that a lot of the violence she sees in her classroom has to do with various special needs that students have.
"It's not personal at all," she said. "I think that's hard for a lot of people to wrap their head around. [Special needs students] are struggling with their own needs and issues, and we just happen to be there."